The Bridgeview Bed and Breakfast

Announcing special winter rates at The Bridgeview B&B for January and February 2010.

Winter Sunset at the Bridgeview B&B

First, weekend room rates will be at the normal weekly rates: $80.00 for one person and $100.00 for two people per night.

Also, if two people stay for more than one night, the second person is free for the duration of the stay. So the rate for two people would be $80.00 per night providing the room is booked for 2 nights or more.

Multiple night rates for the Susquehanna room would be $100.00 per night with 3 people and $120.00 per night with 4 people (up to a $40 discount compared to the weekend rates).

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us!

(This post is by J. Alex Lang)

Leah and I rode the Conrail Historical Society’s “Conrail Express” fantrip on Saturday with Jon Kayes and his girlfriend Heather. Unbeknownst to my girlfriend, I conspired with Brock Kerchner, an old college buddy of mine – and the CRHS Vice President – to make arrangements with Bennett Levin to allow Leah and I out onto the back porch of the PRR 120. The PRR 120 was the Pennsylvania Railroad’s Presidential business car, from Truman to LBJ, including its famous role in the RFK Funeral train in 1968. It is now a group of historic PRR cars and locomotives owned by Bennett Levin, a businessman and railroader in Philadelphia. (Bennett’s two historic E8A passenger locomotives led our train, in their classic tuscan red pinstripe paint scheme.)

As we were westbound on the Port Road between Wago and Stell (this is south of Harrisburg for the non-railroaders here), Brock came back to get us. I said to Leah, “come on, come with us” and we walked back 12 more cars, through the Amfleets and Septa coaches, the PRR Warrior Ridge and a couple others, and into the PRR 120. There were a few big-shots sitting around back there, all already clued into the “situation” so we quietly sat down at the back of the car, trying to “keep it cool” knowing that we were sitting in historic, privileged seats.

Through the large, plate glass windows, we watched the catenary poles whiz by as we continued north, seeing the amber glow of position-light signals in the rain. We continued to enjoy the theatre-like view, passing Stell interlocking, the old Lemo tower site, Day, and crawling into Enola Yard at 10mph. I got clammy and nervous, and for the only time in my life wished that the damn train would go faster! We photographed like foamers as we passed the engine terminal, and watched an NS freight (12R) pulling on the other track as we overtook it towards CP-Hip. A pair of SD70M-2’s looked like Alcos as their white radiator smoke billowed up and over the auburn trees. NS black paint looks best wet, and wet it was as the freight stopped at Hip as our train squealed out through CP-Mary and towards the Rockville Bridge.

The radio squawked out orders to hold at Rockville for the westbound Amtrak “just leaving the station”. Sweet, I knew I had five or ten minutes out on the platform while we were stopped. Bennett radioed to “pull up tight” to the Rockville signal, meaning that our car would definitely be stopped out on the mile-long bridge, over the Susquehanna, within easy view of Keith’s B&B where Leah and I had first talked about getting married during our vacation this past summer.

So, the train gently stopped, and Brock opened the door to the observation platform and let us outside. Leah was busy shooting pictures with her camera, and I had my camera & camera bag with me. Knowing we had a few moments, I nonchalantly took a few pictures of the signals and the Bridgeview B&B, at which point I said “Well, I gotta change lenses…”

I knelt down, opened up the camera bag, and fumbled for the ring box. Looking up, I saw that Leah was still busy shooting, paying no mind to me. So, I opened the box, showing the ring, and looked up again. Click-click-click. Click-click-click. Leah’s still shooting away.

I’m thinking… “Wow, she’s totally oblivious!” Those who know me know that I’m ever so eloquent under pressure. Not one to ignore tradition, all I could muster was a hoarse “Hey!”.

Leah finally puts the damn camera, looking quizzical.

She says nothing.

Staring.

Again, using my skill of the language: “Gotcha!”

…

…

Still puzzled. (Both of us, at this point) So, in the most heartfelt speech I’ve ever given, I asked, “So, what’s it gonna be?”

Finally, Leah gives me a reaction with a big “YES!” and the anticipated hugging and kissing that ensues. Brock was on the back platform shooting away as we celebrated in the wind and rain over the Susquehanna River.

Not long after that, a gentleman stepped out back to tell us to be careful as Amtrak 43 passes us on track 2. Soon after a couple toots, the Pennsylvanian whizzed by and we took a final look around from our loft on the Rockville Bridge before rejoining our friends in the first car.

I took the photos, except for the two of the train, taken by Brian Plant. We’ll see some of Brock’s soon enough, too.

A BIG THANKS to Bennett Levin, Brock Kerchner, Keith Latimer, Brian Plant, Lou Capwell, Derrick Brashear, and a whole bunch of other folks who helped me pull this off.

-J. Alex Lang